SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Further extending its commitment to secure the future of independent pharmacy, McKesson Corporation, the nation’s leading healthcare services company, announced today the launch of RxOwnership.com, a comprehensive and confidential online resource for pharmacy buyers and sellers, as well as students interested in a career in independent pharmacy.

The Web site, now live, is the core element of McKesson’s new RxOwnership program for independent pharmacy — a pharmacy ownership transfer program that is designed to provide independents with useful information and business resources if they are considering buying or selling an independent pharmacy, on a confidential basis. RxOwnership.com also provides pharmacy students with information to learn more about independent pharmacy career opportunities.

“McKesson has been dedicated to serving the needs of independent pharmacy for more than 175 years, and the RxOwnership program will help us continue to shape a bright future for independents for many more years to come,” said John Figueroa, president, McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical. “RxOwnership.com is designed to empower those at all stages in their career to make informed decisions that map to their individual goals — whether it’s selling the pharmacy they’ve built, buying a new pharmacy, or taking the first step toward learning about independent pharmacy ownership.”

“The interest in independent community pharmacy has grown dramatically in the past five to ten years. However, NCPA’s analysis shows that many pharmacists interested in starting their own pharmacy or buying an existing pharmacy are overwhelmed by the process,” said Douglas Hoey, senior vice president, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). “The RxOwnership Web site adds another resource to the marketplace for pharmacists considering pharmacy ownership.”

By visiting the RxOwnership.com Web site, independent pharmacy owners, regardless of whether they are McKesson customers, can confidentially:

Request to speak with an ownership consultant about their questions and concerns

Leverage tools and resources to start creating a plan for buying or selling their pharmacy

Access step-by-step ownership transfer guides

Evaluate financing options

Learn about additional business resources

Bob Graul, a longtime independent pharmacy owner, will serve as ownership consultant for the RxOwnership program. Visitors to the RxOwnership.com Web site can request a confidential discussion with Graul by simply clicking the “Talk to Our Ownership Consultant” button.

As ownership consultant, Graul is an independent contractor responsible for the coordination and implementation of the RxOwnership program — a position in which he will work with community pharmacists to assess their ownership transfer goals. Graul will also work closely with the NCPA, the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA), state pharmacy associations, and schools of pharmacy to advance the future of independent pharmacy.

Selected last year by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve on the California Board of State Pharmacy, Graul is a longtime independent pharmacist who recently went through the ownership transfer process to sell his pharmacy, Rancho Santa Fe Health Mart Pharmacy, to another independent owner.

“As an independent pharmacy owner for more than 20 years, I understand firsthand the challenges that many independent pharmacies face today when it comes to buying or selling a pharmacy,” said Graul, ownership consultant, RxOwnership. “I’m thrilled to apply my experience to assist other independent owners with their ownership transfer goals.”

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 18th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and healthcare information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. McKesson has been in continuous operation for more than 175 years, making it the longest-operating company in healthcare today. Over the course of its history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare, and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com.